my new Chinook!

J

Jeff/1911

Joined
Mar 22, 2001
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ALSO POSTED ON SPYDERSITE:

Hi fellow Spyderfolks,

I just received my plain edged Chinook from Linda yesterday; an early birthday present for myself. It is everything I expected, and more. I was pleased to be able to still get one of the original style, which I much prefer in looks to the Chinook II I have seen in pictures. As well, I would hate to lose any of the heft that this magnificent knife possesses.

At the same time I was getting the Chinook, I also ordered a set of diamond triangles for my Sharpmaker. I'm really excited to try these and see how they work for reprofiling blades or sharpening badly dulled ones.

More on both of these pieces later, once I have chance to wring them out...just wanted to share my excitement with all of you.

Cheers, Jeff/1911.
 
Early happy birthday to you!

If you're really happy with them, will you give yourself a ton of early birthday presents and promise reach 250 years old?
 
The 204 Diamond stones are great. But.....do NOT press the blade hard against them. The diamonds cut due to their extreme hardness, not your hand pressure. If you press too hard, you will end up knocking them off and ruining the rods. Let the diamonds cut. Use very modest pressure. Just enough to keep the blade in good contact with the rods. They cut quick on most steels but are not magic. Still can take awhile. Just not forever like the gray stones. To clean them off I just brush them with a plain nylon toothbrush to knock the dust off. No water, soap or anything else. They work great.

For my taste I reprofile knives with the diamond hones and finish with the edges only of the spyderco white stones (not the flats). This gives me a shaving edge but still toothy with some bite. Works great. I bought mine from New Graham. Good luck. Also remember to pull the knife off the edges of the 204 stones with a brisk backward pull so you dont drag the knife tip across the stone, thereby rounding it.
 
Mike,

Thank you for your counsel, and the benefit of your experience. I was just about to post asking for suggestions on cleaning the diamond hones. I am particularly interested in how they perform on my blades of CPM-440V. I have had trouble getting this steel sharp in the past, using the standard sharpmaker stones.

I'm glad you wrote once again about the "brisk pull" off method of the stones to preserve the knife's tip. I recall your writing this in a past thread about the Sharpmaker and it's propensity (when improperly used) to round tips. I know I've done it. Anyway, I plan to try your technique and see if I can get the hang of it.

Thanks again, Jeff.
 
BTW Folks,

I am delighted to notice that it appears my new Chinook has the "blued steel" finish on the pocket clip that I adore so very much from some models of the past...Calypso, Native, early style G-10 Police, and so on. Wonderful!

Jeff/1911.
 
Congratulations and enjoy your new old style Chinook. I also preffer the first version of this great knife.
Thanks to Mike for sharing those tips.
 
Folks,

I am just amazed at the way this knife just disappears into the pocket. I'm carrying it in the front pocket of my jeans right now and it's like it's not even there, until I need it that is. Then it's there alright, in all it's magnificence! This knife for me, defines the term "reassuring heft".

Jeff/1911.
 
Jeff it took me awhile to figure it out, but when pulling the blade off the corners of the 204 stones, you have to follow through. Pull straight back with a snap motion. Good way to make sure your doing it right is to black magic marker your knife tip. Then after a few strokes check it out with a magnifying glass and see if any marker is missing, indicating your still dragging it across the stone and dulling it. Sharpie marker will wipe off easy with rubbing alcohol when done. I found the angles on my Chinook were very close to the 204 20 degree side (40 degree inclusive angle). 440V steel on both the chinook and military proved no great challenge for the diamond hones. But it still might take a bit if the angles dont match close at all like on some knives. Take your time and keep your blade vertical. Then strop off any wire edge by whatever method you prefer. The diamond hones are so course,that a dry tooth brush cleans them right off. I only use the corners on them. Then switch to corners of the white stones. I get a great edge. I dont like the flats of the spyderco stones. As the blade edge moves along them you have to move your wrist too much to keep the edge in good contact it seems like. Plus the edge of the white stones can leave the edge hair flinging sharp if you just make your strokes progressivly more gentle ending with a feather touch. The edge still has good tooth to it as well and does not seem to slide off nylon rope etc, like more polished edges. Good luck.
 
Mike990,

Thanks a lot for the additional detail to your description. I'll let you know how I do.

Jeff.
 
Folks,

As I posted on the Spydiesite, I've just been trying out the diamond hones...They are quite aggressive, bringing one of my Henckel kitchen knives from completely dull to super sharp in about 10 strokes per side. Amazing!

Jeff/1911.
 
Kewl, i might look into the Diamonds. I got the UF rods. Polished blade cuts paper and soft material like crazy. I rough the rear of my blades with the grey stones so it bites for slicing. I can say i now dont need a serrated edge. Well, i have a Native CE. It eats up rope and cardboard like crazy. Amazing stuff. Read Joe's article on how to make a AXIS perform. You should follow those rules for all ur knives.
 
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